Late-Breaking St. Patrick's Day Antics

Monday

I've always loved St. Patrick's Day. Aside from it being a good reason to wear green and drink Guinness, it's a reminder that spring is just around the corner.

I've always loved St. Patrick's Day. Aside from it being a good reason to wear green and drink Guinness, it's a reminder that spring is just around the corner (it begins March 20, in fact). So if the cold's kept you indoors more often than not recently, here are a few good reasons to get out and celebrate this weekend:

Start your Saturday festivities in downtown Dublin with the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, kicking off at 11 a.m. Sure, you've seen it before, but what better way to get in a green mood than in a town called Dublin with more than 100 floats, dancers and bagpipers? If you're looking for a fun alternative, take the fam to Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for kid-friendly shamrock crafts and performances by The Millennium Irish Dance Co. at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

For dinner, skip the crowded Irish-pub-style restaurants and opt for Sur La Table's "New Irish" cooking class for couples. For $69 each, you'll learn how to make a modern Irish meal-including soup, fish and dessert-with a chef instructor in a hands-on environment, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Cap off the night at Natalie's Coal-Fired Pizza with drinks and live local music by The Drowsy Lads at 10 p.m. Don't let the name fool you-this traditional Irish band plays fun folky music that's anything but sleepy.

Did we miss any great St. Patty's events this weekend? Let us know in a comment below.